Pacific believed it found an identity on offense during the bye week.
The Boxers spent Saturday afternoon showing it, rushing for 303 yards in a 28-14 victory over Puget Sound.
"I think we took some really big steps towards creating more of an identity on offense and who we want to be the rest of the season," Pacific head coach
Ian Falconer said. "We have some talented running backs. Our run game is our strength right now.
Sophomore
Brody Bantolina did most of the damage, finishing with 216 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries.
Bantolina's first carry, an 80-yard touchdown run, gave the Boxers a 7-0 lead with 9:58 remaining in the first quarter.
Puget Sound tied the game with 3:22 remaining in the quarter on a 15-yard pass from Mason Binning to Izaiah Jerenz.
After a 45-yard punt by
Jackson Green pinned the Loggers down at their own 1-yard line,
Nehemiah Faleulu and
Loudyn Reese sacked Binning in the end zone for a safety with 1:15 remaining in the first period.
Tyler Leick then added a 24-yard field goal to extend Pacific's lead to 12-7 with 11:33 remaining in the second quarter.
Bantolina added a 76-yard touchdown run to put the Boxers up 19-7 at halftime.
Puget Sound did not go away quietly in the second half as Binning connected with Jerenz for a 23-yard touchdown to get the Loggers within 19-14 with 8:41 remaining in the third quarter.
But Pacific quarterback
Ryan Helt got the Boxers back in the end zone with a 14-yard touchdown pass to
Isaiah Pitre at the end of the third quarter.
The Boxers then added another safety when Puget Sound snapped a punt out of the back of the end zone.
Pacific's defense forced three turnovers, all interceptions, as
Jesse Stroede,
Joseph Taylor-Pate and
Tatum Tausaga each picked off Binning.
Hunter Brown led the Boxer defense with 11 tackles and a sack in the victory.
The win was Pacific's first of the season.
"Winning is hard in college football and anytime you get a win, you're always happy," Falconer said. "I'm super proud of the kids and the coaches. Everyone has worked really hard. When you start a season with a couple of tough games and you don't get the result, it's hard and everyone has to push through and grind a little bit more. The kids kept pushing at practice and I think that's one of the reasons we got the win."
Next, Pacific travels to Pacific Lutheran Saturday, Oct. 7 before hosting Lewis & Clark College on Oct. 14 for homecoming.
For the latest information on Pacific Athletics, make sure to check out GoBoxers.com. You can also find the Boxers on social media at @GoBoxers on
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